Sermons of M. John Calvin upon the Epistle of Saint Paul to the GalatiansSermons of M. Iohn Caluine vpon the Epistle of Saincte Paule to the Galathians

For it is certain that so long as we be let alone in our own nature, we tend evermore unto evil, and the scripture also condemneth us of it,¹ saying that there is not any thought conceived in mans mind,² but the same is lewd, and all our affections are enemies and rebels against God. Therefore let us not beguile ourselves any more with vain flatteries, but acknowledge ourselves too be utterly marred in Adam, so as there is nothing but sinfulness in us. Notwithstanding, God provideth for that mischief, when he toucheth us too the quick by his holy spirit, and so ⟨image 136⟩purgeth our harts as we desire to obey him, and although we be not so perfect as were requisite, yet we fight against ourselves, and go forward still to goodness. And surely when Gods spirit is as a bridle to us to hold us back in his obedience, it is a sure token that God dwelleth in us, and governeth us as his flock, and holdeth us for his children. For we cannot be counted Christians, without this record, that God warranteth himself to be our father, and that his holy spirit is as a seal thereof, according as I have already alleged the record of Saint Paul,³ out of the first to the Ephesians. And now he saith, that the Galatians had received the spirit of God by the preaching of the Gospel. Then seeing it is so, it was for too be concluded, that the works of the law could not justify them. And why? For we must always come back to this principle which we have treated of, namely that in the Gospel we be utterly stripped out of all the goodness and virtue which we thought ourselves to have, and that God doth us such shame, as we be fain to come to him as quite confounded. For although God set our cursedness afore us in the law: yet we perceive it not so well there, as in the Gospel. And we see how the hypocrites do always flatter themselves, and think too perform the things that are commanded them. But in the Gospel there are two things. For God showeth that there is nothing in us but poverty, so as we must be fain to come to beg his grace, with utter acknowledgement of our baseness, how that we have done amiss, and have not one spark of virtue in us worthy of commendation.